The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search in Asia, national level, outcome sustained

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

19 incidents match this view.

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
January 7, 2026Israel: ban on independent entry of foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, 2023 to 2026Israel (RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180)Access bansSustained (February 25, 2026)
January 29, 2025Pakistan amends cybercrime law to create new agency policing 'fake' online contentPakistan (RSF 2026 rank: 153rd of 180)Official labelsShehbaz SharifSustained
May 28, 2024Georgia enacts 'foreign influence' law requiring media to register as foreign-backedGeorgia (RSF 2026 rank: 135th of 180)Official labelsIrakli KobakhidzeSustained
February 22, 2023Turkiye: the broadcast regulator fines and suspends channels for earthquake coverageTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Prior restraintRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSustained (February 22, 2023)
February 13, 2023Cambodia: Prime Minister Hun Sen orders Voice of Democracy's license revoked over one articleCambodia (RSF 2026 rank: 151st of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsHun SenSustained (February 13, 2023)
December 14, 2021Vietnam: journalist Pham Doan Trang is sentenced to nine years for anti-state "propaganda"Viet Nam (RSF rank: not recorded)Secrets and espionage lawsNguyen Xuan PhucSustained (December 14, 2021)
June 24, 2021China (Hong Kong): Apple Daily closes after its assets are frozen under the national security lawHong Kong (RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsCarrie LamSustained (June 24, 2021)
March 8, 2021Myanmar junta revokes five outlets' licenses and raids newsrooms after coupMyanmar (RSF 2026 rank: 166th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsMin Aung HlaingSustained
March 18, 2020China: press credentials and visas withheld from correspondents at three American newspapersChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Credential controlXi JinpingSustained (March 3, 2021)
March 17, 2020China expels American journalists from three major U.S. newspapersChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialXi JinpingSustained
February 19, 2020China: three Wall Street Journal correspondents expelled over an opinion headlineChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Access bansXi JinpingSustained (February 19, 2020)
November 7, 2019India: journalist Aatish Taseer's overseas citizenship revokedIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialNarendra ModiSustained (November 7, 2019)
January 17, 2019Turkiye: Dutch freelance journalist Ans Boersma deportedTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Expulsion and visa denialRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSustained (January 17, 2019)
March 21, 2018Turkiye: Dogan Holding sells its media outlets to DemirorenTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Funding and ownership pressureRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSustained (March 21, 2018)
September 4, 2017Cambodia's government forces the closure of The Cambodia Daily with a disputed multimillion-dollar tax billCambodia (RSF 2026 rank: 151st of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsHun SenSustained (September 4, 2017)
July 27, 2016Turkey closes more than 100 media outlets by decree after a failed coup attemptTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSustained (December 31, 2016)
March 4, 2016Turkiye: court installs trustees at Zaman newspaperTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Funding and ownership pressureRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSustained (March 4, 2016)
September 2013Vietnam: Decree 72 restricts blogs to personal informationViet Nam (RSF rank: not recorded)Official labelsNguyen Tan DungSustained (September 1, 2013)
June 14, 1989China expels foreign journalists and restricts coverage of the Tiananmen Square protestsChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialLi PengSustained (January 1, 1990)
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